Seven South African Indians get National Orders

"It was a very emotional moment. My mother was a feminist to her dying day and a firm believer in human rights. I put that on her gravestone in Dublin. She was born a Muslim and died a Muslim, but didn't believe that it was mutually exclusive and that it was possible to be a feminist as well, like many other Muslim feminists in this world," Hutchinson said.

Also receiving the Order of Luthuli in Silver were struggle veterans Essop Jassat and Moosa "Mosie" Moolla, former South African ambassador to Pakistan.

"We didn't do what we did to get the Order, but because we felt that we had to fight the injustices that there were in this country. We suffered, but we didn't want this to be repeated for our children," Jassat said.

"We played our part and it's good to get recognition, but the important thing is that the objective of a free South Africa has been attained and we must build on it," Moolla said.

Prof Quarraisha Abdool Karim received the Order of Mapungubwe in Bronze for her internationally acclaimed research into HIV Aids.

"This award is validation for the work being done by lots of teams across the country in the important challenge facing us. Having that recognised at this level is incredibly important, because we have a lot more work to do and hopefully it will inspire other people to join the efforts already under way to prevent HIV infections and the consequences of being infected," Abdool Karim said.

Laila Turkmore-Reddy, daughter of veteran diplomat Enuga Reddy, who started the fight against apartheid led by India in 1948 at the UN and continued to do so for many decades, received the Companions of OR Tambo in Silver on his behalf.

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